Producer Jonathan Hirsch had a childhood much like yours -- except his family had a secret. They were followers of a controversial spiritual leader named Franklin Jones. To Jonathan’s parents, Franklin Jones was a god, but to people outside the group, Jones was a cult leader. Now, Jonathan is going back, trying to find out what happened -- and whether the group really did become a cult.

To some he was an enlightened master, and to others a dangerous cult leader. One thing’s for sure, the spiritual leader Rama was a product of the 80s: designer clothes, a rock band, sports cars and a modern message were only some of the things that made Rama a fascinating and complex teacher. Host Jonathan Hirsch explores his life and untimely death. Smoke Screen is an investigative documentary series on people with complex motives and morals. Follow characters on the fringes of society - co ...

“The History of the World’s Greatest Nightclubs.” From London Audio, iHeartRadio, and executive producer Paris Hilton. Hosted by Ultra Naté, this is a 12-part podcast exploring how different clubs around the world revolutionized the way we party. How they ushered in the birth of new genres and became hotspots for political activism. But above all how they created space for people to escape the world around them, to lose themselves in the music and leave it all on the dance floor. Nightclubs ...

A tragic double suicide. A teenager suspiciously drowned. A mother and her childhood nanny drive off a cliff. Between 1979 and 1989, a dozen people died under mysterious circumstances, with one thing in common: a connection to a spiritual leader in Dallas, Texas named Terri Hoffman. In Scary Terri, investigative reporter Jonathan Hirsch unravels the web of lies, manipulation, and dubious deeds that surround Hoffman. A dark Texas Gothic about the Charlie Manson you’ve never heard of. Scary Te ...

Every other week, Rabbi Ammi Hirsch hosts intellectually honest conversations unpacking current events through the lens of Jewish wisdom and values. Unbound by politics and untethered by party lines, Ammi and his distinguished guests discuss everything from foreign affairs and antisemitism to politics and pop culture. This show is recorded from New York’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, a historic Reform congregation deeply rooted in liberalism, support for Israel and social justice.

Forum tells remarkable and true stories about who we are and where we live. In the first hour, Alexis Madrigal convenes the diverse voices of the Bay Area, before turning to Mina Kim for the second hour to chronicle and center Californians’ experience. In an increasingly divided world, Mina and Alexis host conversations that inform, challenge and unify listeners with big ideas and different viewpoints. Want to call/submit your comments during our live Forum program Mon-Fri, 9am-11am? We'd lo ...

Film & TV episodes of the popular The Creative Process podcast. We speak to actors, directors, writers, cinematographers & variety of behind the scenes creatives about their work and how they forged their creative careers. To listen to ALL arts & creativity episodes of “The Creative Process · Arts, Culture & Society”, you’ll find our main podcast on Apple: tinyurl.com/thecreativepod, Spotify: tinyurl.com/thecreativespotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! Exploring the fascinating minds o ...